Training Apparatus to Maintain Straight Arm formation for Volleyball Players

ABSTRACT

A training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball player includes an arm sleeve, a pair of elongated support sleeves, a pair of rods, a wrist fastener strap, and a bicep fastener strap. The pair of elongated support sleeves is connected along the arm sleeve so that the pair of rods can be removably inserted into the arm sleeve. When the arm sleeve is worn by the volleyball players, the pair of rods extends from the wrist area to the bicep area over the elbow of the players. Resultantly, the pair of rods prevents the player from bending their arms during game play. The wrist fastener strap and bicep fastener strap that wraps around the arm sleeve and the pair of rods provide additional securing support to maintain the placement of the arm sleeve around the player&#39;s arm, during the game play.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/308,037 filed on Mar. 14, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of sports equipment. More specifically, the present invention is a training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players during passing situations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Volleyball is a team sport that allows two teams score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court side as a net separates two teams. During the game, players of both teams go through basic skills of volleyball that are serve, pass, set, attack, block, and dig as the opposing team is trying to ground the ball. The passing is one of the most important skills so that a team can properly handle opponent's serve or any form of attack. When the inside parts of the joined forearms are utilized to pass the ball, it is critical that the passing player keep their both arms together and straight to properly control/place the ball within the court. Even though this is an important skill that every player must master during practice, some players have a difficult time keeping their arms together and straight.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball player. More specifically, the present invention is an arm sleeve that is integrated with a pair of rods so that the players can train to keep their arms straight during practice. The pair of rods extends from the wrist area to the bicep area over the elbow of the players thus preventing the players from bending their arms. Due to the muscle memory, the players are then able to learn how to maintain straight arm formation overtime which ultimately transfers into improved game play and result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention which covers the inside parts of the forearm.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the present invention which covers the dorsal surface of the forearm, wherein the broken lines illustrate the pair of rods.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention which covers the dorsal surface of the forearm, wherein the broken lines illustrate the first rod and the second rod.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the present invention taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and the section which a detailed section is taken shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a detailed section view of the present invention taken along section 7 of FIG. 6

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the present invention showing with respect to the inside parts of the forearms.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a training apparatus for volleyball players so that the players are able to learn how to maintain straight arm formation to properly pass the volleyball during game play. Preferably, players can wear two training apparatus on their left and right hands to maintain a uniform platform form the inside parts of the joined forearms. However, players can wear single training apparatus on either the left hand or the right hand if only one of the arm bends during game play. In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises an arm sleeve 1, a pair of elongated support sleeves 5, a pair of rods 10, a wrist fastener strap 13, and a biceps fastener strap 14. The arm sleeve 1 provides the wearable surface area so that the players can wear for the present invention. The pair of elongated support sleeves 5 is connected along the arm sleeve 1 in which the pair of elongated support sleeves 5 is extended between a wrist rim 3 and a biceps rim 4 of the arm sleeve 1. The pair of rods 10, which prevents the player's arm from bending, is removably positioned within the pair of elongated support sleeves 5. The wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14 are laterally connected to the arm sleeve 1 in such a way that the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14 are positioned opposite of each other along the arm sleeve 1. As a result, the player is able to secure the arm sleeve 1 around their arm through the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14.

In reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, the arm sleeve 1 that enables the player to wear the present invention around their arm is preferably comprises a stretchable tubular wall 2 so that the player can insert their arm through the arm sleeve 1. Then, the stretchable material allows the arm sleeve 1 to be tightly fitted around the player arm. The length of the arm sleeve 1 is preferably measured from the player's wrist to player's biceps as the stretchable tubular wall 2 is extended between the wrist rim 3 and the biceps rim 4.

In reference to FIGS. 3-4, the pair of elongated support sleeves 5 that integrates the pair of rods 10 comprises a first sleeve 8 and a second sleeve 9. The first sleeve 8 and the second sleeve 9 are positioned parallel to each other along the arm sleeve 1 and spaced apart from each other to properly place the pair of rods 10 adjacent to the forearm. More specifically, the first sleeve 8 and the second sleeve 9 each comprise an opened end 6 and a closed end 7. The opened end 6 is positioned adjacent to the biceps rim 4, and the closed end 7 is positioned adjacent to the wrist rim 3. In reference to FIGS. 5-7, a first rod 11 from the pair of rods 10 is removably positioned within the first sleeve 8 through the opened end 6 of the first sleeve 8. Similar, a second rod 12 from the pair of rods 10 is removably positioned within the second sleeve 9 through the opened end 6 of the second sleeve 9. When the present invention is positioned around the player's arm, the first sleeve 8 along with the first rod 11 and the second sleeve 9 along with the second rod 12 are positioned along the dorsal surface of the forearm. Therefore, the player can comfortably wear the present invention around their arm to maintain straight arm formation and plays volleyball as the pair of rods 10 does not does not encounter the volleyball. In order to properly accommodate different user requirements, the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 can be manufactured as flexible bodies or rigid bodies within the present invention, where one does not precede the other. Additionally, the pair of rods 10 is made of any material that may not allow the player's elbow to be bent, such as metal, hard plastic, or any other similar types of material. Since the first sleeve 8 and the second sleeve 9 extends from the wrist rim 3 to the biceps rim 4, the pair of rods 10 also extends from the player's wrist area to biceps area, preventing the player from bending their arms.

In reference to FIGS. 2-3, the wrist fastener strap 13 is positioned adjacent to the wrist rim 3, and the biceps fastener strap 14 is positioned adjacent to the biceps rim 4. Due to the strategic placement of the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14, the player can secure the arm sleeve 1 about the player's wrist area and biceps area. More specifically, the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14 each comprises a first exterior wall 15, a second exterior wall 16, a loop fastener strip 19, and a hook fastener strip 20. The first exterior wall 15 and the second exterior wall 16 are positioned opposite of each other along the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14. In reference to FIG. 2, the hook fastener strip 20 is perimetrically connected to a proximal end 17 of the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14 as the hook fastener strip 20 is adjacently positioned on the first exterior wall 15. In reference to FIG. 3, the loop fastener strip 19 is perimetrically connected to a distal end 18 of the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14, wherein the loop fastener strip 19 is adjacently positioned on the second exterior wall 16 and opposite of the hook fastener strip 20. Due to the opposite positioning of the loop fastener strip 19 and the hook fastener strip 20 about the wrist fastener strap 13 and the biceps fastener strap 14, the player can individually adjust the tightness of each fastener strap. More specifically, the player can wrap the wrist fastener strap 13 around the arm sleeve 1 and the pair of rods 10 thus securing the present invention to the player's wrist area as the loop fastener strip 19 of the wrist fastener strap 13 attaches with the hook fastener strip 20 of the wrist fastener strap 13. The player can also wrap the biceps fastener strap 14 around the arm sleeve 1 and the pair of rods 10 thus securing the present invention to the player's biceps area as the loop fastener strip 19 of the biceps fastener strap 14 attaches with the hook fastener strip 20 of the biceps fastener strap 14.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arm sleeve 1 is approximately 10-13 inches long and approximately 7 inches in circumference. The arm sleeve 1 is to fit on the player's arm, from about 2-3 inches above the wrist, over the elbows, to the biceps area as the pair of elongated support sleeves 5 and the pair of rods 10 are featured on the dorsal side of the player's arm.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players comprises: an arm sleeve; a pair of elongated support sleeves; a pair of rods; a wrist fastener strap; a biceps fastener strap; the arm sleeve comprises a wrist rim and a biceps rim; the pair of elongated support sleeves being connected along the arm sleeve; the pair of elongated support sleeves being extended between the wrist rim and the biceps rim; the pair of rods being removably positioned within the pair of elongated support sleeves; the wrist fastener strap and the biceps fastener strap being laterally connected to the arm sleeve; and the wrist fastener strap and the biceps fastener strap being positioned opposite of each other along the arm sleeve.
 2. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the arm sleeve comprises a stretchable tubular wall; and the stretchable tubular wall being extended between the wrist rim and the biceps rim.
 3. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the pair of elongated support sleeves comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve; and the first sleeve and the second sleeve being positioned parallel to each other along the arm sleeve.
 4. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the first sleeve and the second sleeve each comprises an opened end and a closed end; the opened end being positioned adjacent to the biceps rim; and the closed end being positioned adjacent to the wrist rim.
 5. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the pair of rods comprises a first rod and a second rod; the first rod being removably positioned within the first sleeve; and the second rod being removably positioned within the second sleeve.
 6. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first rod and the second rod being flexible.
 7. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first rod and the second rod being rigid.
 8. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the wrist fastener strap being positioned adjacent to the wrist rim; and the biceps fastener strap being positioned adjacent to the biceps rim.
 9. The training apparatus to maintain straight arm formation for volleyball players as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the wrist fastener strap and the biceps fastener strap each comprises a first exterior wall, a second exterior wall, a loop fastener strip, and a hook fastener strip; the first exterior wall and the second exterior wall being positioned opposite of each other along the wrist fastener strap and the biceps fastener strap; the hook fastener strip being perimetrically connected to a proximal end of the wrist fastener strap and the biceps fastener strap; the hook fastener strip being adjacently positioned on the first exterior wall; the loop fastener strip being perimetrically connected to a distal end of the wrist fastener strap and the biceps fastener strap; and the loop fastener strip being adjacently positioned on the second exterior wall, opposite of the hook fastener strip. 